Asher’s POV

The office felt heavier than usual, as if the walls themselves were pressing in, waiting for me to crack under the pressure of everything I was trying to carry.

The morning light filtered through the large windows, casting long shadows across the polished desk, Marcus’s desk.

No matter how many days I sat here, no matter how many times I adjusted the chair or placed my hands on the smooth wood, it still didn’t feel like mine.

A sharp knock at the door pulled me from my thoughts.

“Come in,” I said, straightening my tie.

The door creaked open, and Marcus’s secretary, Evelyn, stepped inside. She looked polished...